A few weeks ago, Aldi launched their popular spring-summer rosé wine collection, much to the joy of the people who loved it last year.
At Simple & Homely, we don’t need much convincing to put foods or drinks to the taste test panel in the name of research. With a panel of 11 people aged between 18 – 59 of varying alcoholic drink preferences, we spent an afternoon drinking our way through six of Aldi’s seven rosés. It was a blind test, with only the pourer knowing which wine was which.
So, what did we think of Aldi’s spring-summer rosé collection? The results were mixed, but there was one clear loser. Let’s start with the favourite.
Our favourite – Chassaux et Fils Sainte Victoire Provence Rosé
With hints of citrus fruits, melon, and red berries, you’d expect it to be quite fresh, perhaps. Aldi describes it as a dry wine and all 11 taste testers said the word dry after their first sip, varying from “semi-dry” to “quite dry”.
The general census was that this was a nice, drinkable wine, albeit “not very strong”, “sharp”, and possessing a “standard smell”. For a fruitier drink, a lemonade top wouldn’t go amiss. It’s near the top end of the range at £8.99 a bottle.
2nd – Le Petit Poulet Rosé
Enter: the cheapest bottle in the range at £6.29. Aldi describes it as “fresh, dry and zesty”. It was more sour/tart than the Chassaux et Fils Sainte Victoire Provence Rosé, and as such, it received some mixed reviews. One tester found the sourness earnt it the badge of “2nd worst”, but overall, the majority pulled positive faces after their first sips.
One asked “why does it taste fizzy?” while two people put it firmly in second place. I guess the panel has a thing for sour flavours.
3rd – Aldi Castellore Organico Organic Prosecco Rosé
This one also split the pack, but not for flavour reasons: freshly poured, most deemed it far too fizzy to be enjoyable. Leaving the flutes to sit for a little bit solved this problem and the rest of the opinions were positive (except one who wasn’t a fan at all). Overall, it was a dry prosecco with one saying it would be nicer with frozen strawberries in it.
4th – Jolie by Juiliette
At £7.69 a bottle, Jolie by Juliette is in the middle of the range. Three people said it was nicer and “sweeter” than Chassaux et Fils Sainte Victoire Provence Rosé – that’s not enough to place it higher than 4th, though. Four people didn’t like it at all. One found the flavour a bit watery, another found it “smooth and pleasant”, while others said they wouldn’t be able to get through a full glass full.
5th – Aldi Specially Selected Organic Costa Toscana Rosé
The group was split into two with this one: five said “not great”, the other six said a flat out no. Case closed.
Last place – Specially Selected Rosorange Rosé, £9.99
The group’s feelings on this one were unanimous: acid. “The best place for this is down the sink,” was by far the most scathing response. To follow up their very acidic comment, one said it was “heartburn inducing”. Given this is the most expensive bottle in the range, we’d hoped for better.
